MILLIONAIRES’ MISSION On Channel 4
Wednesday 19 September 2007
9:00pm
In a new four-part series, eight successful British business leaders have been challenged by leading development agency World Vision to improve the living standards of a remote Ugandan farming community. To help get their ideas off the ground, the entrepreneurs have each donated £15,000 to a joint fund. They’re exchanging five-star lifestyles for three weeks living in a makeshift camp without running water or electricity. But can eight bosses who are used to getting their own way work together to help people in the village?
September 20th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Hi. I am not Ugandan, but I am from Africa and watched episode 1 of this series with horror and disgust at the attitude of the Millionaires in Uganda. I am disgusted and offended at the way that they came across like they were some saviours who had come to bless Uganda and therefore Ugandans should be greatful - How dare them. Everything they did right from the start shows that they didnt have a clue. What did they expect the ugandan engineer who was to provide a pump and solar system to charge them? I mean, an African hears that 8 ‘dumb’ rich-dummy millionaires are coming from the UK to buy/spend something and they really expected him to give them a sensible price? Come On! Wouldnt you just let a fellow African do the negotiation for you, while you stand in the background?
They then called a meeting and only 2 people showed up and they seemed to think that they (the Millionaires) are Jesus because no one comes. And even when the meeting eventually takes place, they agree to make pledges and promises to the Ugandan chiefs and communities about repair to an ambulance, church,and provision of schools etc…..only for all of a sudden ignore what the communities ‘wanted’:snore: and then go off on their own tangent on creating a tourist hotel:rolleyes:
And to add insult to injury, they seemed to think that the government officials smiling in agreement in them providing some dumb and crazy idea of a hotel is the acceptance in building something for the community. Little did they know that the goverment officials are looking for ‘deals’ to line there own pockets.
My greatest concern is the damage that these 8 millionaires are doing in terms of relationships between true well meaning Europeans and Africans in general. They are the worst group of people to have sent on this project (then again, its Channel 4).
These millionaires should be open and honest with themselves - said your money from your plush hotels/houses in London, and let those who care do the job instead. Dont come pretending that you want to help, when some of you just want to write a cheque. And if there Ego’s weren’t that bad, then they shouldn’t have to do charity work in front of a TV camera.
Someone mentioned in the previous thread that there are worse places in Uganda to go to. i dont think thats the point here - if you sent them to the worst place in Uganda, they would have behaved the same, and probably not stayed.
My church did a mission to Uganda and built a refuge for the 100’s of kids that are being mutilated by the militia. No fanfare, no TV crew, just a Pastor and a few others who went to the community, asked what the people wanted and did the best in there heart to give it to them. The place is the up and running and Ugandas are blessed by it.
The only good thing that this has shown is where the hearts of these so called millionaires is at, and by the looks of it, it looks like they will reap what they sow - i.e. it looks like the Ugandans get angry on the next episode by carrying machetes and cutlass etc
I see Ugandans as proud people, despite the odds that they have faced over the years. Lets not ridicule them by thinking that being blessed with money means that we can go into a community and flash money in peoples faces like some kind of charity.
only one of the millionaires is doing it for me - the youngest one - he has a heart.
August 17th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
As a Brittish/African female growing up in the U.K, like most people, im utterly bored of the stereotypical portrayal of Africa and Africans as living in poverty and in need of savior by western rock stars such as that smelly, tallentless, failed musician ‘Sir Bob Geldoff’- who seems to have adopted ‘Saving Africa’ as his full-time job. Yes there’s poverty in Africa, but theres poverty everywhere!including here in the uk. we’ve got hoodies,drug crime, highest rates of stds in europe, and crazy religiouse fanatics tryin to blow us up. Im sure many Africans would think we in the west are in need of saving!